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Summary: American tanks are unloaded at Southampton Docks, and the Home Guard train for combat manoeuvres. There is also some engineering work being undertaken on a variety of Landing Craft inside an Eastleigh workshop.

Description: (16 August 1943) Unloading tanks from an American cargo vessel at the “Dry Dock” Southampton, the South coast of England. An American 6x6, 4-ton, truck tows an American tank (90 mm Gun Motor Carriage, M36 or T71) along the dockside. The turret section is still partially crated for transit. Dockside cranes continue to lift tanks from the cargo vessel, many more tanks and military vehicles have already been unloaded. Close-ups of workers detaching tanks from steel cables, and the whole dockside at work from a distance. SH265-266
(21 August 1943) Long queues of holiday makers at Waterloo Station, London. (Technical: printed out of rack). (3 min 16 sec) SH267
(29 August 1943) A Home Guard “inoculation exercise” at Chatham, in Kent. Amongst think vegetation, the impression given is of a real battle scenario, as the Home Guard rush into manoeuvres and smoke fills the air. Cuts to British Officers disembarking in a staff car, saluting before stepping into the vehicle. Back to the Home Guard sequence; beginning with a mock Wehrmacht tank in the undergrowth. Its metal frame has been blown to twisted metal, three Home Guard members take a closer look. An anti-tank hand grenade fuse being tested by a member of the Home Guard. One is detonated on the ground another is thrown at the mock tank. (3 min 30) SH268-270 + SH273-274 (17 September 1943)
(10 September 1943) Eastleigh Works, Hampshire, an American Austerity locomotive 2-8-0 (No. 2378) leaves and re-enters through large workshop doors. SH271 (5 min 17 sec)
(15 September 1943) Inside an Eastleigh Workshop, tests are undertaken on a machine gun turret, mounted on a LCSM (Landing Craft support, Medium). Inside the hull of an ALC (Assault Landing Craft) two young apprentices (aged approximately 12-14 year old) heat rivets in a furnace for the more experienced workmen to hammer into the deck. Finishing touches, a navigational devise is fitted to the deck. Cuts to a pontoon bridges being built, followed by carpentry work on wooden hulled boats. (6 min 10 sec) SH272